Region 11432 [N13W66] reemerged with spots and produced a few minor
flares. Unfortunately SWPC was confused by the development in region S1532 early
in the day and reassigned 11432 to that region. Later in the day the original AR
11432 reemerged.
Region 11433 [N11W43] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 11434 [S21W53] has minor polarity intermixing in the trailing spot
section and could produce C flares and maybe a minor M class flare.
Region 11435 [S26W62] was quiet and stable.

Spotted regions not reported by NOAA/SWPC:[S1532] emerged in the northwest quadrant on March 18. Location at midnight:
N24W68
[S1535] rotated into view at the southeast limb on March 19. Location at midnight:
S14E83
[S1536] emerged near the southern edge of CH508 on March 19. Location at
midnight: S27E05
[S1537] emerged in the southwest quadrant on March 19. Location at
midnight: S26W12

A coronal hole in the southern hemisphere will be an Earth facing position on March 20.

The above coronal hole map is based on a method where coronal holes
are detected automatically. While the method may need some fine tuning, it
has significant advantages over detecting coronal holes manually. The main
improvement is the ability to detect coronal holes at and just beyond the solar
limbs. Early results using this method for SDO images over a span of several
weeks indicate a good match between coronal holes observed over the visible
disk and their extent and position at the east and west limbs. Note that the
polar coronal holes are easily detected using this method, the extent and
intensity of both CHs are consistent with other data sources.

Long distance low and medium frequency (below 2 MHz) propagation along paths
north of due west over high and upper middle latitudes is poor. Propagation on
long distance northeast-southwest paths is fair.

The geomagnetic field is expected to be
quiet on March 20-22. A high speed stream from CH508 could cause
quiet to unsettled conditions on March 23-24.

Coronal holes (1)

Coronal mass ejection (2)

M and X class flares (3)

1) Effects from a coronal hole could reach Earth within the
next 5 days. When the high speed stream has arrived the color changes to
green.
2) Effects from a CME are likely to be observed at Earth within 96 hours.
3) There is a possibility of either M or X class flares within the next 48
hours.

When available the active region map has a coronal hole polarity overlay
where red (pink) is negative and blue (blue-green) is positive.

Data for all numbered solar regions according to the Solar Region Summary
provided by NOAA/SWPC. Comments are my own, as is the STAR spot count (spots
observed at or inside a few hours before midnight) and data for regions not
numbered by SWPC or where SWPC has observed no spots. SWPC active region
numbers in the table below and in the active region map above are the historic
SWPC/USAF numbers.

1) Running average based on the daily 20:00 UTC observed solar flux value at
2800 MHz.
2A) Current impact on the monthly sunspot number based on the Boulder
(NOAA/SWPC) sunspot number (accumulated daily sunspots / month days). The
official SIDC international sunspot number is typically 30-50% lower. 2B) Month
average to date.
3) Running average based on the quicklook Potsdam WDC ap indices.
Values in red are based on the definitive
international Potsdam
WDC ap indices.

This report has been prepared by Jan
Alvestad. It is based on analysis of data from whatever sources are
available at the time the report is prepared. All time references are to the
UTC day. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

SDO images are courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science
teams.